Changes could be made to the Albert Park circuit to improve overtaking, according to Australian GP chief Andrew Westacott.
The race has been characterised by a lack of on-track action, particularly since 2017, with the last two years only seeing a total of 17 on-track passes despite three DRS zones.
And although 14 of those came this past weekend, thanks to new aero designs and a closer midfield, that isn’t stopping officials in Melbourne from proceeding with their plans.
“We will have to get the report back from [acting race director] Michael Masi, but I think we will be resurfacing in the next year or two,” Westacott told The Age.
“As the cars keep evolving we will do what we can to evolve the circuit.”
A few years ago a suggestion was made to create an overtaking opportunity by extending the straight into Turn 11 and creating a much tighter corner.
That was later dropped though and instead, alterations to the road itself, including the width and camber, are seen as more likely.
“Ross Brawn will also be consulted but no call will be made for six or nine months,” the Australian GP boss added.
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While those changes will be welcomed, the idea of resurfacing Albert Park wasn’t, with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel both voicing opposition.
“I haven’t got the balance yet which maybe I would like to have, especially in lower speed, and not the confidence and trust which again, around here, can make a big difference because it’s a bumpy track,” the German said.
“I hope they don’t resurface it because it’s part of the character of this track.”
Hamilton added: “I like the track the way it is. I think it’s a great circuit because there are not particularly massive run-off areas. If you put a wheel wrong, it generally does bite you which is great and how it should be.
“The bumps are part of the character of what Melbourne is so if you were to iron those out it would lose a lot of [the challenge] you know, it does make it trickier for us but that’s a part of it, you need that.”
